The topic of this research involved the occurrence of genetic transformation in bacteria (E. Coli). More specifically, a previously prepared pGLO plasmid--which consisted of the gene to be cloned--was used to transform non-pathogenic bacteria. The pGLO plasmid contained a gene for the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from a bioluminescent jellyfish and a gene for resistance to ampicillin, an antibiotic. Essentially, we wanted to determine the conditions of the bacteria that would glow. Our hypothesis was that the transformed solution with no plasmid DNA and ampicillin would produce no bacteria colonies, as it wouldn't be able to grow without the gene for ampicillin resistance. Also, the transformed solution with just LB and ampicillin would produce bacteria colonies but the transformed solution with LB/ampicillin/Arabinose would produce glowing bacteria colonies (as Arabinose allows the GFP gene to be expressed, but in both cases bacteria colonies would be present because of the gene of resistance to the antibiotic, ampicillin).

Animation of the structure of a section of DNA. Th...

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). Produced from PDB...

Green Fluorescent Protein drawn in cartoon style w...

We essentially made the required transformed solutions--and the controls--swiped them on the agar plate, and then observed to see whether or not bacteria colonies grew and whether or not they glowed. Our data fully supported our hypothesis. We can thus conclude that bacteria can take in foreign DNA through the process of transformation and that this foreign DNA can fundamentally change the bacteria (ex: making it glow). Future research can involve inserting other pieces of DNA into bacteria from different organisms, making the bacteria take on various phenotypic characteristics.

Background Information:

Genetic transformation is one of the most important processes in biotechnology. Essentially, genetic transformation involves the process where a cell (in this lab, a bacterial cell) takes up foreign DNA from its surroundings and incorporates it into its own DNA. This gene transfer is accomplished with the aid of a plasmid, a naturally-occuring...

Reviews of: "AP Bio pGLO Transformation Formal Lab Report":

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